Sometimes Strength Requires a Break

“They” have a lot to say about moms being strong:
“A Real Mom:
Emotional, yet the rock.
Tired, but keeps going.
Worried, but full of hope.
Impatient, yet patient.
Overwhelmed, but never quits.
Amazing, even though doubted.
Wonderful, even in the chaos.
Life changer, every single day.”
-Rachel Martin
“Here’s to strong women.
May we know them
May we be them.
May we raise them.”
-Unknown
“Even when a Mother’s soul is tired, she finds strength for her family.”
-Life Quote Journal
“Being a mother means being strong, even though you know you’re weak. Giving them love, even when you want to be comforted. Most of all placing their needs before your wants.” – The Mom Life Uncensored
“Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.”
-Barbara Kingsolver
“A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.”
-Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Sometimes what “they say” makes me feel like I have to be strong ALL the time or that I have to be perfect… and when I’m not it makes me feel bad, or like I’m not enough. I feel like I need to push through the pain, the tiredness, the emotion.
This week has been hard. All three of my children are sick. I am also sick and I have vertigo. The vertigo has caused horrible dizziness and nausea to the point where I could hardly move. It was so severe I realized I couldn’t take care of my children. I needed to ask for help. And I did. And you know what? I found myself feeling BAD about it. I found myself feeling like I was failing.
But, here is the truth: We don’t have to be strong all the time. We don’t have to be perfect. We teach even in the moments when we lack strength. We show our children that even we have moments of weakness. Even we get tired. Even we get sick. Even we make mistakes. We teach that these moments are to be expected and that it is okay. We teach in the way we handle these moments, in the ways we take care of ourselves.
The truth: It’s okay to ask for help. Sometimes you have to listen to your body. As parents, it is typical for us to try to push through mentally or physically exhausting times. Even though we want to push through, it is so important to listen to our bodies and take some time for ourselves.
The truth: It’s okay to “take five.” In fact, taking time to care for ourselves only makes us better and stronger in the end. Just like you must first put on your oxygen mask before you can help someone else, you have to take care of yourself to be effective.
I have to remind myself, “mind over matter” as I’m running through the day completing each task, all the while forgetting to take care of myself.
So, if you have the opportunity to take time for yourself, always do it. Ask for help. Take turns with your spouse or partner, or a friend so that you are able to have a little me-time… even if it is simply a short trip to Target. And, never feel bad when you need a break, when you are struggling.
Well, that’s my rant for the day. Be healthy! And you know what? If we are even half—a quarter even—of what the above quotes state, then we are nothing short of amazing!
To learn more about me and my blog check out: About Lauren
You may also enjoy: How Becoming a Mom of Three Has Changed Me

50 responses to “Sometimes Strength Requires a Break”

Great post, thanks for sharing this. It’s so true that we just can’t be strong all of the time. That unreasonable expectation just puts additional stress on moms I hope you and your children all feel better and have nicer days ahead.

So good! We can’t be effective parents if we are physically exhausted and emotionally spent with no end in sight! It pays to know your limits and know when to gladly receive help and rest. Thanks for sharing!

Sometimes we have to let our guards down and rest. Well even Superman has his Kryptonite. It’s okay not to be okay at times. What matters most is how we can recover after. Great post! Thanks for sharing.